Page 43 of The Piper's Pursuit

Steffan met her eye. He whispered, “Not yet.”

Kat glanced over at the children. Two of them, the older boy and girl she’d noticed earlier, were sitting up and whispering, then they glanced over at Kat.

One of the guards on that side of the cavernous room said sternly, “Lie down and be quiet.”

The two laid their heads back down. Were they plotting how to escape, even as Steffan and Kat were? Or were they simply talking because they’d been awakened?

The guards standing over Steffan and her were still facing them, suddenly very watchful. After several minutes, Kat’s traitorous eyelids were becoming heavy. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but she was very tired. Would it be so bad to die? At least she could rest. But she couldn’t think like that. Her mother needed her, these children needed her, even the townspeople of Hamlin needed her, if only to be a voice raised against Hennek.

If she died, Hennek might get away with all this.

The minutes passed. No one moved or changed their position. Steffan occasionally shifted his arms or legs. But the guards were more focused on them than ever, even to the point of ceasing to talk among themselves.

Kat’s head was so heavy, but she would not allow these men to see her relax her vigilance. But her thoughts were as heavy as her head and eyelids, mired in the danger that surrounded them, worrying she might not be able to rescue the children, as well as feeling concern for the wound on Steffan’s chest.

She leaned her head back against the stone and allowed herself to close her eyes. But when she felt her head lolling to the side, she quickly forced her eyes open. She had to stay awake. She pinched her arm, hard, and bit the inside of her lip. Steffan had the long cut on his chest to keep him awake, she supposed. Did the wolf bite on his arm still pain him?

It surely had to be almost morning. Perhaps they weren’t to be killed after all. Kat’s eyelids kept closing. There was obviously no immediate danger, and she would hear if the guard who’d been sent to Hennek came back. She closed her eyes. How pleasant just to rest her head and her eyes for a moment.

Voices drifted into Kat’s mind. Men were laughing and talking a long way away. Her head was resting against something firm but comfortable, but it wasn’t the mine wall. It was Steffan’s upper arm.

She sat up straight and blinked. The guards stood where they had been before, staring at her and Steffan. Steffan was also looking at her, his blue eyes soft, his expression compassionate.

“Go back to sleep,” Steffan whispered. “I’ll wake you if—”

“Quiet!” A guard kicked Steffan’s foot. Steffan did not even acknowledge the kick, but closed his own eyes and leaned his head back.

Part of her wanted to lay her head against his arm again, but the other part of her was embarrassed that she had slept with her head on Steffan. How could she have let herself do that? She was usually so vigilant. And she normally awoke at the slightest sound. Would Steffan think badly of her?

Her eyelids were growing heavy again. If she fell asleep, would she end up on Steffan’s shoulder again? She forced her eyes open. Steffan shifted, his arm brushing against hers. Her heart stammered.

Suddenly she heard footsteps, then Hennek’s voice booming, “Welcome to my humble mine!”

The sleepiness went right out of her at Hennek’s voice. Even the guards stood straighter, their eyes growing larger. No doubt they had not expected Hennek to come himself.

“How do you like my little business endeavor?” Hennek’s grin and tone were as hostile as his words were boastful. “It produces a ton of silver every month. My little workers know the consequences if it doesn’t. And that is what got me thinking... You two”—he looked pointedly at Kat and Steffan, raising his brows at them—“are more valuable to me if you work in my mines than if I kill you.” He thrust his shoulders back. “The thorn-in-my-side stepdaughter who tries to turn my wife against me, and the son of the wealthy and powerful Duke Wilhelm of Hagenheim. And with you healthy, strapping beast killers in my mine, it should produce twice as much silver, maybe more.”

Hennek rubbed his hands together, but his eyes were dull and dark.

Kat glanced at Steffan. He was staring hard at Hennek, but his expression betrayed no emotion.

How could one man be so despicable? To profit off the labor of children, to devise this elaborate scheme for something as meaningless as silver. Wealth was worthless compared to a child’s life.

But when she heard that he hated her for speaking the truth about him to her mother, her heart expanded and she felt a rise in her spirits.Yes, and I will continue to speak the truth when I get out of here. I shall speak out against you over and over, and everyone will know you for the evil man that you are.

“How long do you think you can keep this up, Hennek?” Steffan said the words in a lazy drawl. “I’m just curious.”

“As long as I want to. It is the perfect scheme.” Hennek’s eyes were black and cold. “If I had gotten rid of this stepdaughter of mine a long time ago, no one ever would have discovered my plan. Everyone else in my household is either too loyal or too daft.”

“You’re just too clever for everyone else, aren’t you?”

Hennek’s eyes narrowed as he seemed to be weighing whether Steffan was sincere or not. Then Hennek spun around and yelled, “Everybody up! No more sleeping! Your new fellow workers just caused you to lose your last hour of rest. Get up!”

The guards standing near the children started kicking at their feet. The little children on the floor sat up one by one, their eyes barely open. But the two oldest children were wide-eyed and stared straight at Katerina and Steffan and Hennek.

“You too,” Hennek sneered at Kat and Steffan. “Get up and get to work. Let’s see how much silver you can dig out of my mine.”

Katerina got up off the floor and stood beside Steffan. Hope surged. Hennek couldn’t resist feeding his pride, but it would keep them from being killed right away.